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Traditional Christmas foods include more than fruit cake

Holidays can be a wonderful time of feasting, and Christmas is certainly no exception.

No doubt you and your family have a favorite holiday meal, drink or treat you enjoy every year.

For some folks, it’s the Christmas goose, or turkey or ham.

In Medieval England, boar’s head was commonplace at Christmas, served on a platter to royalty amid much ceremony.

In Denmark, families enjoy a meal at midnight Christmas Eve, topping it off with a special rice pudding, in which a single almond is hidden. The family member who finds the almond is said to have good luck throughout the year.

A Ukrainian tradition is a Christmas Eve supper consisting of 12 separate dishes, but with no meat or dairy products.

And an extra place setting is prepared, either to remember those who’ve died, or to offer to a passing stranger.

One of the more peculiar yet lasting food items associated with Christmas is the fruitcake. Recipes for fruit cake are quite varied, but most include some types of nuts and/or fruits. The secret ingredient is often some form of flavored liquid, usually a liqueur.